I agree with both of you.  However, in this day we have to be so careful
that we are not saying the wrong thing or being misquoted it is frightening.
If an employee feels picked on or infringed upon they can sue you.  Even if
they don't win they can make your life miserable. We can't always do the
"right thing" for fear of being branded ourselves by the very person who may
commit an unthinkable act.
Pam Marcum

-----Original Message-----
From: Bartlett, Jeanine [mailto:jqb7@cdc.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2000 9:45 AM
To: 'Mike Kirby'; Histonet
Subject: RE: Mental illness


I agree with Mike.  We are often instructed to just ignore or side-step a
co-worker with "problems".  Supervisors should take a more active role in
addressing the issue rather than trying to just "keep the peace" at all
costs.  After all, the price will be paid eventually and usually at a much
higher expense.

Jeanine Bartlett
Centers for Disease Control
Atlanta, GA
jbartlett@cdc.gov
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Kirby [mailto:mikek@mail.saimr.wits.ac.za]
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2000 9:07 AM
To: Histonet
Subject: Mental illness



Fellow Netters,
	To follow up on the observations of Sarah Christo regarding mental
illness,
in the 38 years that I've worked in the profession, I personally, have seen
eight co-workers taken away by the "Men in white coats" and incarcerated in
places of safety, have worked with two Pathologists who definitely were on
the ragged edge of sanity/insanity, and have known a least a dozen other
Staff members who's mental stability was at best, dubious.
	Dare one speculate that this kind are attracted to the Medical
Profession,
or do they become "unstable" because of the conditions in the profession, or
is the problem just as common in the job market elsewhere?
	One can deal with a nutty patient, as one is generally forewarned,
but a
nutty co-worker is another story, especially when they start off "sane" and
slowly deteriorate over a period of time. It's even worse when they are a
member of another race or culture, just how does one deal with the problem?
	Thanks Sarah for your input, this is a subject that should be
brought out
into the open, after all, who wants to be stabbed or shot by some crazed
co-worker?

Mr.M.Kirby
S.A.I.M.R
Johannesburg
South Africa